Plaster ring



' March 10, 1931. s. L. BARNES I I PLASTER RING Filed Jan. 22, 1929 50265 LBAAIVES ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES GrEORG'rE I. BARNES, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA PLASTER RING Application filed. January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,221.

My invention relates to plaster rings of the general character usually associated with outlet or junction boxes of electric wiring systems installed in buildings having plastered 5 interior walls, to guardagainst the blocking up of the outlet boxes with plaster during plastering of the walls around the outlet boxes.

In buildings having plastered walls, it is 10 the usual practice to position an outlet box between adjacent studs or beamsin a wall, and to secure the plaster foundation elements such as wooden laths, wall boards and expanded metal laths to the studs in spanning relation to the latter. In the use of wooden laths for example, certain of the latter project from those studs between which the outlet box with its plaster ring is situated, and are cut off to terminatein close proximity to the outlet box to permit access to the interior of the latter and yet provide a' foundation for the plaster around the outlet box. Unless the free extremities of these laths projecting from adjacent studs to the outlet box are supported in some manner they do not provide the necessary stable foundation for the plaster.

It is therefore a purpose of my invention to provide a plaster ring embodying simple and substantial means by which the free extremities or edges of those projecting portions of the plaster foundation elements'between the outlet box and the adjacent studs will be firmly supported against lateral displacement, to the end that distortion or bulging out of alignment of the wall in the proximity of the outlet box, with the consequent fracturing or falling off of the plaster, will be positively prevented.

I will describe only one form of plaster ring embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view showing in front elevation one form of plaster ring embodying my invention secured to an outlet box in a wall and supporting free extremities of plaster foundation elements.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plaster ring shown in the preceding figures.

Referring specifically to the drawing in whichsimilar reference characters designate similar parts in each of the several views, my invention in its present embodiment is shown associated with an outlet or junction box 0 secured by a suitable fastening means M to a hanger H, which latter is secured to studs or beams S to fixedly support the outlet box between adjacent studs, all of which is conventional and will be clearly understood by those familiar with the art.

The plaster ring embodying my invention is designated generally at P and although illustrated as being annular in form, it will be clearly understood that the term ring is employed in the art regardless of the configuration of the plaster ring as the latter in some instances is rectangular or square in outline to conform to the contour and dimensions in plan of the particular outlet box with which it is to be associated.

Theplaster ring P is usually formed of suitable sheet metal and provided with a continuous outwardly projecting base flange 10 having openings receiving headed screws 11 threaded through ears 12 on the outlet box O to fixedly secure the ring to the outlet box. From the inner edge of the base flange 10 projects substantially at right angles thereto and from the outer side thereof a continuous plaster guard flange 13 which serves to guard against the entrance into or blocking up of the outlet box with plaster during the plastering of the wall. From the free edge of the guard flange 13 projects ears 14 provided with threaded openings 15 adapted to receive screws (not shown) to attach a lighting or other fixture to the ring. The general form of plaster ring so far described is conventional and well known in the art.

In applying plaster foundation elements such as wood laths L, wall boards or expanded metal lath (not shown) to a wall, the foundation elements are nailed or' otherwise secured by suitable fastening members to the studs S to span the spaces between the latter in covering relation thereto. However, the spanning of the space between adjacent studs S occupied by an outlet box with laths L or other plaster foundation elements will be obstructed by the plaster ring so that the laths must necessarily terminate at the ring, thus leaving their free extremities or edges unsupported by the studs S. Unless the free extremities of such portions of the laths as project from the adjacent studs to the ring or outlet box are supported in some manner, they will fail to provide a proper and stable foundation for the plaster so that in the case of a ceiling for example, the weight of the plaster will cause the foundation elements to bulge or be distorted to such extent as to cause cracking and breaking of the plaster around the outlet box, thus rendering the wall unsightly and necessitating repairs thereto.

To overcome these objections I provide on the plaster ring a simple and substantial means for supporting the free extremities of those laths L or other plaster foundation elements which terminate at the plaster ring, and in the present instance this means is formed on the guard flan go 13 by slitting the latter inwardly from the free edge of the guard flange and then bending the slit portions of the flange outwardly to provide a plurality of spaced apart tongues 16 sub stantially parallel to, and spaced from the base flange 10.

In applying the laths L or other plaster foundation elements to the wall, they are first cut off at such points along their lengths as to permit the free extremity thereof which is to terminate at the plaster ring, to be inserted between the tongues 16 and the base flange 10, after which the laths are secured to the adjacent studs. The spacing between the tongues and base flange is such as to permit the free entry of the free extremities of the laths, and it will be clear that with the laths secured to the studs, the free extremities of the lathe will be firmly supported against lateral displacement so as to be securely held in alinement with the remaining portions of the laths.

It will be manifest that the tongues 16 broadly constitute an abutment overlying the free extremities of the laths so as to prevent outward displacement thereof from the plaster ring, and that the tongues and base flange 1O broadly speaking co-operate in providing spaced abutments between which the free extremities of the laths are received and retained against lateral displacement both inwardly and outwardly from the plane of the ring.

Although with this form of my invention, the continuity of the guard flange 13 is broken by the provision of the spaced apart tongues 16, suflieient material remains between adjacent tongues to provide an effective guard against the passage of any appreciable amount of plaster when applied to the laths to a thickness, the outer surface of which is flush with the free edge of the guard flange as shown in Fig. 2.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of plaster ring embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. 1'1 plaster ring having a base flange and means co-operating with the base flange to form spaced abutments between which free extremi ies or edges of plaster foundation elements are adapted to be received and supported.

2. A plaster ring having a base flange and spaced apart tongues co-operating with the flange to form spaced abutments be- V which free extremities or edges of guard flange disposed in spaced and substantially parallel relation to the base flange.

A plaster ring having a continuous flange and a continuous plaster guard flange extending laterally from the base flange, and means on the plaster guard flange co-acting with the base flange to form spaced apart abutments between which extremities of laths are adapted to be received and supported when the plaster ring is secured to an outlet box in a wall.

6. A plaster ring having a continuous base flange and av continuous plaster guard flange extending laterally from the base flange, the plaster guard flange being slit at intervals and bent between certain of the slits to form tongues extending substantially parallel to the base flange for co-action with the latter in defining spaced apart abutment-s between which extremities of laths are adapted to be received and supported when the plaster ring is secured to an outlet box in a wall.

GEORGE L. BARNES.

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